It might sound Scrooge-like, but more and more parents are taking a stand for a gift-free holiday.

Between Thanksgiving, Halloween, Hanukkah, Christmas, and—please, no—any kids’ birthdays that might crop up in between, tiny downtown family homes are overrun with toys. So it’s not surprising that more parents are taking a stand for a gift-free holiday.

Case in point: the Buy Nothing Christmas movement, which was created in 2001 by a group of friends as a firm “no” to patterns of overconsumption come holiday time.

If forgoing all presents feels too harsh, you can always sign a “pre–NUPP,” or “pre-No Unnecessary Present Pact.” Devised by the U.K.’s foremost “money saving expert,” Martin Lewis, the agreement isn’t anti-gift per se, but rather, strongly against presents that languish, unwanted, in closets. By taking compulsory gift-giving out of the equation, it discourages obligatory buying and avoids surprise spending beyond your already maxed-out means.

Or why not take the Buy Handmade pledge? Created by the so-called “Handmade Consortium” and spearheaded by Etsy.com and Craftster.org since 2007, this push for homemade gifts has quickly spread via the craft-blog community. So if your inner Scrooge is talking to you, listen to him, and know that you’re not alone in your deeply cranky feelings towards more plastic playthings.

Disclaimer!: BunchFamily.ca and The Grid assume no responsibility for tantrum-throwing kids as a result of the opinions expressed.